Three robberies, five arrests in Anderson, Knox counties

A Clinton man with an extensive criminal history in Anderson County has been linked to three robberies — two on Saturday and one on Monday — in two counties.

by Beverly Majors

A Clinton man with an extensive criminal history in Anderson County has been linked to three robberies — two on Saturday and one on Monday — in two counties.

Curtis Lynn Lowe, 35, listed as homeless, was arrested Monday morning in Knoxville after allegedly robbing the Walgreens store on Clinton Highway near Merchants Road. Another man, 46-year-old Timothy Bush, originally from Ohio, was also charged in that case.

Anderson County deputies had been searching for Lowe since linking him to two Anderson County incidents on Saturday.

According to Anderson County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, the first robbery happened just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday when a man robbed and threatened a 46-year-old clerk at knifepoint at the Town Talk Market on Lake City Highway. The suspect reportedly threatened to cut the clerk’s throat if he didn't give him money.

The clerk handed over money from the cash register, reports said, and the suspect fled the store.

The robber was accompanied by another man and a woman, a Sheriff's Department news release said. Witnesses gave deputies a description of the vehicle the trio fled in and then broadcast the information to other area law enforcement agencies.

"Through investigation, sheriff’s investigators learned the identity of the robbery suspect and this information was also sent out," Lucas said in the release.

Then, about 8 p.m. Saturday, deputies were called to a home on Sulphur Springs Road after a man and woman came to the house and asked to use the telephone. Once inside the home, the man allegedly threatened to kill the resident and demanded his wallet.

At that point, Lucas said, deputies linked the two robberies.

A short time later, deputies saw a vehicle matching the description given to them from the robberies, and — with the assistance of Clinton police officers — took three people into custody, Lucas said in the release.

Curtis Lowe was not in the vehicle when it was stopped, but deputies arrested 52-year-old Gary Wayne Lowe, of Nashville (formerly of Clinton), 28-year-old Misty Dawn Gurley and 25-year-old Brandi Marie (Berry) Bugg, both of Clinton. They were charged with facilitation of a felony and were taken to the Anderson County jail.

According to records, Gary Lowe is currently on parole after serving time in prison. He was released on parole in 2007 after serving about 25 years. Records indicate he was originally sentenced in 1981 after being convicted of burglary in Anderson County, but was convicted of second-degree murder in Davidson County in 1984.

Lucas said Curtis Lowe is the actual suspect in both robberies and was not found at that time.

But then about 11:15 a.m. on Monday, Curtis Lowe allegedly walked into the Walgreens store and threatened an employee with a gun and demanded money, said Darrell DeBusk, Knoxville Police Department public information officer.

DeBusk said the suspect tried to get into a gold Chrysler 300 with Ohio tags, but the car left the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Curtis reportedly fled on foot at that point.

DeBusk said Officer Robert Cook saw Lowe walking near King Tires near Clinton Highway and took him into custody without incident. Curtis reportedly still had the stolen money with him when captured. He was taken to the Knox County Safety Building and interviewed by investigators, DeBusk said.

A short time after the Walgreens robbery, KPD Officer Todd Green was flagged down by two people in a gold Chrysler 300 with Ohio tags at the Weigel's store on Summit Hill, DeBusk said. The occupants told Green a man in a yellow jacket tried to carjack them at the Walgreens on Clinton Highway. They were also detained and taken to the Safety Building for questioning.

After questioning, KPD officers arrested 46-year-old Tim Bush, listed as homeless but originally from Ohio, in connection to the Walgreens robbery. The woman in the car was questioned and released from custody, DeBusk said.

Lowe and Bush were each charged with aggravated robbery in the Knoxville case and are being held on a $75,000 bond. Lowe is also being held for the Anderson County charges of robbery, burglary and two outstanding warrants for contempt of court. He would be brought to the Anderson County jail if released on bond from Knox County.

Gary Lowe, Gurley and Bugg remain in the Anderson County jail without bonds pending hearings.

Curtis Lowe has an extensive criminal history in Anderson County and was arrested on burglary charges in April. He and at least three other men reportedly broke into a house on Ross Cemetery Road in Lake City and stole property. Lowe's case was waived to a grand jury and was indicted on burglary charges in October.

Beverly Majors can be contacted at (865) 220-5514.

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